How to Format a Mail Merge Field in MS Word

Question

How can I format a merge field for currency in MS Word?

Answer

This FAQ will show you how to have the number “2000” display as “$2,000.00” when merged into a Microsoft Word template.

All formatting is done to the merge field within the MS Word template, not within ReadySetAuction.

1. Open the letter template in MS Word. Your merge fields should appear similar to this: «amount»
2. Hold “Alt” and press “F9” on your keyboard to display the field codes, which should look similar to this: { MERGEFIELD amount }
   Alt+F9 works as a toggle between the two views; pressing Alt+F9 a second time will display the field values again instead of codes. 
3. Add the following expression at the end of the word “amount” without leaving spaces: \# $,0.00
   Your field should now look like this: { MERGEFIELD amount\# $,0.00 }
4. Press Alt+F9 to return the page view to merge values and you are ready to merge. 

There is another method of formatting the merge data for a mail merge that can be found on the Knowledge Base at Microsoft Support. 

Question

What do the characters that we added to merge fields mean and do?

Answer

The “\# $,0.00” that we added to the merge field told the field to do the following:

When you put it together, you get \# $,0.00

Question

How do I change the format of a date field?

Answer

The date merge fields can have formatting added to them in the same way as currency merge fields.

1. Hold “Alt” and press “F9” to display the field codes, which should look similar to this: { MERGEFIELD GIFT_DATE}
   Alt+F9 works as a toggle between the two views; pressing it a second time will display the field values again instead of codes. 
2. Add your function to the end of the field name (e.g. GIFT_DATE) without leaving spaces. See a list of functions below.
3. Press Alt+F9 to return the page view to merge values and you are ready to merge.